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Courtelary

Canton of Bern · Former district: Courtelary · 1'432 inhabitants (31.12.2025)
Origin of the name Founding Historical timeline Population over time Must-see historical sites Sources and references Nearby villages

Origin of the name Courtelary

Courtelary appears in 968 as « Curtis Alerici », the name of an estate of the abbey of Moutier-Grandval (the municipality cites a deed of 9 March 962 and the spelling « Curtis Alarici »). The meaning of the name has not been explained.[1][2]

Founding of Courtelary

The village grew out of an estate of the abbey of Moutier-Grandval on the floor of the Suze valley, and the chapter of Saint-Imier also held property here. A small Romanesque church, dedicated to Saint Imier, was built above the site and became the centre of a parish that included Cormoret. The valley passed from the counts of Fenis-Neuchâtel to the lords of Erguël until 1264, then gradually to Biel/Bienne. The territory combines two kinds of settlement: the compact village in the valley and isolated farms above 900 m, where Bernese Anabaptists ran mountain farms and made cheese. Courtelary remained a village of farmers and craftsmen until the 20th century, despite the watchmaking that spread through the upper valley from the 18th century.[1][2]

History of Courtelary

968 (or 962). The estate of « Curtis Alerici » belongs to the abbey of Moutier-Grandval.[1][2]

1179 (or 1178). Pope Alexander III confirms the property held in Courtelary by the chapter of Moutier-Grandval and by that of Saint-Imier.[1][2]

10th or 11th century. A small Romanesque church is built above the village.[1][2]

Late 13th century. The advocacy of Courtelary is given to Biel/Bienne.[1]

1372. The church is enlarged for the first time. It will be enlarged again in 1642 and 1773.[1][2]

1530. Biel/Bienne imposes the Reformation in Erguël.[1][2]

1555-1556. Courtelary enters a co-citizenship with Solothurn in 1555. The following year a treaty confirms the customs and liberties of Erguël, known as its « Franchises ».[1][2]

1604. Appeals from the courts of Erguël now go to the court house of Courtelary instead of Biel/Bienne.[1][2]

1606. Prince-bishop Jacques-Christophe Blarer de Wartensee installs the bailiffs of Erguël in Courtelary, in a castle built for them.[1][2]

1639. Soldiers of the Duke of Saxe-Weimar plunder the village and set part of it on fire.[1]

1733. The bishop's ordinances of 1726 have caused unrest. At a stormy assembly, bailiff Benoît-Aimé Mestrezat has to flee.[1][2]

1792-1793. After the last bailiff leaves, an assembly of the land of Erguël tries to found a republic. The attempt fails.[1][2]

1797-1814. Under French rule Courtelary is the chief town of a canton, in the department of Mont-Terrible, then Haut-Rhin.[1][2]

1815. Joined to the canton of Bern, the village becomes the chief town of the bailiwick of Erguël.[1][2]

1831. The bailiwick gives way to the district of Courtelary.[1]

1862. An orphanage opens. It has become today's children's home.[1][2]

1874. The Biel/Bienne-Les Convers-La Chaux-de-Fonds railway opens. It encourages the building of a wood pulp mill.[1][2]

1921-1935. To end the flooding, the bed of the Suze is straightened. Many unemployed men work on the site.[1][2]

1935. The Camille Bloch chocolate factory takes over from the wood pulp mill.[1][2]

1992. The community centre opens. It houses the kindergarten and the municipal administration.[1][2]

Population of Courtelary

Sources and references: [1][3]

Population of Courtelary
146026 hearths (parish)
1739354
1801545
1850868
19001'228
19501'239
19701'462
19901'120
20001'127
20251'432

Historic sites in Courtelary

Reformed church. Small Romanesque church of the 10th or 11th century, enlarged in 1372, 1642 and 1773. The restoration of 1933-1936 uncovered wall paintings from the late 11th century (or the 14th century), including an Adoration of the Magi and Saint Imier chasing away the griffin. The tombstone of bailiff Pétremand d'Aulte lies at the foot of the south front.[1][2]

Castle, now the prefecture. Built in 1606 for the bailiffs of Erguël, it has become the prefecture.[1][2]

School of 1908. School building in the Heimatstil style. It houses the secondary school and the municipal library.[1][2]

Community centre. Opened in 1992, it brings together the kindergarten and the municipal administration.[1][2]

Sources

  1. Dictionnaire historique de la Suisse, « Courtelary (commune) » (Anne Beuchat-Bessire), version du 31.05.2012
  2. Municipalité de Courtelary, « Notre histoire »
  3. Office fédéral de la statistique (OFS), STATPOP, population résidante permanente au 31.12.2025

Localities of the municipality with a page

Other villages near Courtelary

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